Police fired several canisters of tear gas in vain on Monday as supporters of Mathew Bazanya stood their ground, forcing the postponement of LC2 elections in three parishes of Kitayunjwa Sub-county, Bugabula South constituency.
The parishes—Namisambya, Namaganda, and Naminage—were scenes of heightened tension as a political alliance between incumbent MP Maurice Kibalya, former MP Asuman Kiyingi, and former Kamuli LCV chairperson Thomas Kategere clashed with a surge in support for newcomer Bazanya.
In Namisambya Parish, where the vote was postponed after allegations that voters had been illegally assembled under the guise of a seminar, Bazanya addressed the crowd, urging calm.
“We are not weakened but strengthened by the cancellation of elections here. Our rivals petitioned the electoral commission, but these are manipulations of dying horses. Power remains with you, the voters,” Bazanya told his supporters.
Despite police efforts, including firing tear gas and braving a heavy downpour, Bazanya’s supporters in Naminage Parish—Kibalya’s home turf—refused to leave the scene.
They continued chanting pro-Kadaga slogans such as “Kadaga nowaife” and “Anita mugwira tuboole abayuda,” expressing resistance against perceived political interference.
Tensions escalated further when supporters of Kibalya allegedly vandalized and carried Bazanya’s campaign shrine to Kibalya’s Community Hospital in protest.
Meanwhile, in Iringa Parish, Milly Babalanda, Minister for the Presidency and aspiring MP for Budiope West, was elected unopposed as chairperson of the Women’s League.
The appointment was described as a reward for her steadfast promotion of women’s empowerment.
The Kamuli district electoral commission is yet to announce new dates for the postponed elections.